Steady increase in the number of photochemically unstable drugs will continue to positively influence the growth of the empty capsules market in 2016, with global revenues expected to increase by 6% to reach US$ 1,432.6 Mn.

Increasing demand for vegan and Halal pharmaceuticals is ramping up adoption, and providing support to a market, which is primarily driven by Type-A (pork-based) capsules. Development of hypromellose capsules for the treatment of pulmonary and non-pulmonary diseases are also creating growth opportunities for manufacturers.

Gelatin-based capsules will continue to account for higher demand than vegetarian-based capsules, accounting for nearly 71% revenue share of the market in 2016. Type-A (pork skin), the largest segment in terms of raw materials, will grow at a lower rate than non-pork based empty capsules, especially hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and fish bone gelatin. While type-A (pork skin) revenues will grow by 4.62% in 2016, fish bone gelatin and HPMC revenues will grow by 8.87% and 8.40% respectively.

Size “4” capsules will continue to be the largest revenue segment on the basis of capsule size, with total revenues expected to reach US$ 263.1 Mn in 2016. Size “1” and Size “2” capsules will also account for substantial demand, collectively accounting for over US$ 430 Mn in market revenues in 2016.

Empty capsules are administered orally, and only a small percentage of these drugs is inhaled – the former accounted for 91.1% revenue share of the global market in 2015. While inhalation-based empty capsules will grow at a higher rate, they will continue to account for a revenue share of less than 10% of the overall market.

Pharmaceutical companies – the largest end-use segment for empty capsules – will continue to post strong gains in 2016. Revenues from this segment are anticipated to increase at 5.79% in 2016 to total US$ 940.8 Mn. Demand will also be healthy in the cosmetics and nutraceutical sector, with this segment collectively accounting for nearly US$ 360 Mn in revenues in 2016.

The U.S. is the largest market for empty capsules, with total revenues expected to reach US$ 500 Mn in 2016. The North America empty capsules market (U.S. and Canada) is the largest globally in terms of revenues, accounting for nearly 43% revenue share of the market. Western Europe will maintain its position as the second largest market for empty capsules, with total revenues expected to reach US$ 279.4 Mn in 2016. Germany and France are the two largest markets in terms of revenues, with the former accounting for the highest revenue share and the latter growing at the highest rate.

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